The undefeated miss breezed an effortless six furlongs in 1:12.40, and her morning jaunt was reportedly better than her final Cup move in ‘08. Earlier this year she did not seem to be quite as sharp as she was last season, but all of that has changed now, and she appears poised to deliver the goods in the Cup.

Zenyatta is approaching the Breeders' Cup on top of her game

In other Classic works, Summer Bird went five furlongs in :59.28 at Santa Anita. In his final work, he went fast early and slow late, and he might be worth trying to beat over a surface he might not particularly enjoy.

Gio Ponti worked four furlongs in :52.59 over a soft turf course at Belmont Park. He is enjoying a fine year and should be rolling late in the Classic.

Quality Road also drilled at Big Sandy, but he did his work on the main track, getting five panels 1:00.81. He should be a pace factor in the Cup, but his ability to handle synthetic ground is a major question.

2007 Classic show finisher Awesome Gem, coming off a win in the Hawthorne Gold Cup, went six furlongs in 1:13, and I would not be shocked if his late rally netted him another minor award.

Ky Derby winner Mine That Bird galloped a couple of miles on Oct 31st, and he will have his final Cup work on Monday.

Handicapping the Breeders’ Cup?

Use the BC Dashboard featuring over 100 replays, morning lines and handicapping analysis for all 14 races!

Results and video from all past Breeders’ Cup Classic races can be found here.

Image: Newscom

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Mine That Bird shocked the world on the first Saturday in May with an improbable late running win in the Kentucky Derby. He had lost three straight before that, and he has dropped four starts since. Sustained runner is always at the mercy of the pace, and the 4-time synthetic winner finished last in the ‘08 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. He was 6th of 10 when last seen in the Goodwood, the final local prep for the Classic. He drilled a :58 and change five furlong bullet over the Pro-Ride surface on Oct 26th.

Mine That Bird has lost four straight since winning the Ky Derby

Girolamo is an exciting 3yo with an outstanding pedigree. The Godolphin colorbearer has won all three of his starts this year and exits a strong tally in the Jerome Handicap at Belmont Park. He has never tried synthetic ground, but a more pressing matter is his lack of a route foundation. If he opts to go in the Classic, it will be his first start around two turns. He has a ton of raw talent, but he has a tall task confronting him.

Gio Ponti is an interesting prospect for trainer Christophe Clement. He had his four-race grade one win streak snapped in a place finish over boggy ground at twelve furlongs last time. He’s a 3-time winner at ten furlongs and won a graded event over the local synthetic track in Dec. ‘08. Classy colt is worth a look at playable odds.

Einstein is a graded winner on dirt, synthetic, and turf. He lone start over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface resulted in a Big Cap victory in March of this year. Versatile sort worked a strong five furlong bullet at Churchill on Oct 25th in advance of his Cup tilt. He tries to end a 3-race losing streak, and note that he only missed by a neck when last seen in the Pacific Classic.

The ‘09 Classic drew sixteen pre-entries, and I’ll be back tomorrow to look at the final four players.

We have the 2009 Breeders Cup thoroughly covered on Horse Racing Nation. I am pleased to announce that we have launched the BC Dashboard!

Over 100 video replays. Fields and morning lines for all 14 races. Handicapping race outlook. Historical Race Profiles. Find it all at the BC Dashboard.

Results and video from all past Breeders’ Cup Classic races can be found here.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Eoin Harty’s charge was last seen finishing a solid 6th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic versus a salty group of older international company. Besides the Travers, Colonel John also won the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Sham (G3), both at Santa Anita Park.

2008 Breeders Cup Classic replay

He began his career with a place finish at Del Mar in 2007, and he won his 2nd career race at the Malibu seven furlong distance. Garrett Gomez, his Travers and Sham pilot, climbs back aboard. He is expected to try the Strub and Big Cap, both routes at Santa Anita Park, following his after Christmas extended sprint run.

Colonel John wins Travers

Into Mischief is supposed to head to the breeding shed following his Malibu engagement. The lightly raced son of Harlan’s Holiday has been part of the exacta in all five career outings, and he must work out a trip from the tricky rail post. Richard Mandella will give regular pilot Victor Espinoza a leg up.

Three-time sprint winner Bob Black Jack is the one to catch, and he exits a needed 5th place finish versus older graded foes.

Golden Spikes invades from Florida for the high percentage Marty Wolfson. The stalk and pounce type has the talent to compete with these, but he has never tried synthetic ground. He did work over the Pro-Ride surface on Dec 19th.

Nownownow has struggled in five starts this year. His last win occurred over yielding ground in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Monmouth Park, and his lack of any speed puts him at a huge disadvantage versus this salty crew.

Guns On The Table is getting better for Bob Baffert, but this is a tough spot to try graded company. Rafael Bejarano ends up here, and I can see him sneaking into the trifecta at nice odds.

3-time graded winner Georgie Boy rounds out the field. He was 4th behind Into Mischief when last seen on the Breeders’ Cup undercard. He should improve following that needed outing, but he might not be as sharp right now.

The Malibu is the 8th race on a 9 race card, which also includes the Grade 3 Sir Beaufort (race 7) for three-year-olds traveling a flat mile on the turf. Gio Ponti (post 12) is the 2-1 morning line favorite.

The 6th race, the $125k California Breeders’ Champion Stakes, is a state bred juvenile event, and the speedy Lordgivemealift is the tepid 7-2 morning line choice in a seemingly wide open event.

The 3rd race, a maiden special weight sprint, is my MySpace free selection of the day.

Photo Credit: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Saturday (11-29-08) recap

Both surfaces seemed to play fair…pace made the race.

Tyler Baze and Rafael Bejarano both booted home a pair.

Mr. Rod ran them off their feet in the Grade 3 Generous. Pletcher fav Bittel Road gave a gallant chase but was 2nd best. California Flag got away with a :23.84 opening quarter en route to a facile wire job in the 23rd running of the Grade 3 Hollywood Turf Express. My top choice Delta Storm was passively ridden from the rail post under Gryder and ended up a better than appears 3rd.

Sunday (11-30-08) Hollywood Park preview

Sunday’s 10-race Turf Festival (Day 3) card features the Grade 1 Matriarch and the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.

The 4th race, an optional claiming sprint, is featured below.

Hollywood Park race 4 (OC-80/3x, 3up, 6.5f)

(1) Kruger Park (8-1) – Inside post struggling at this distance. Turf specialist.

(2) Talkin To Mom Roo (3-1) – Sharp since Puype claim. Fresh and versatile.

(3) El Gato Malo (2-1) – Two-time graded route winner returns in sprint prep. Might need a race.

(4) Gayego (5-2) – Has struggled since 17th place Kentucky Derby finish.

(5) Call On Carson (12-1) – Conventional dirt specialist 0-4 on synthetic.

(6) Peace Chant (7-2) – Ouside speed threat has lost six straight.

Analysis: Talkin To Mom Roo is the now horse with 5 exacta finishes in last 6 starts. The two favs are 3yo’s with issues as noted above, and my top appears ready to fire a big shot off the bench.

The $20 Play:
$20 to win Talkin To Mom Roo

Daily Wager recap

Saturday (11-29-08): Key horse Bourbon Bay dead-heated for the show.

Overall: (-71) through 24 days of the Hollywood Park fall meet.

Photo Credit: Newscom

Below is a YouTube replay of the 2008 Virginia Derby, featuring Hollywood Derby contenders Gio Ponti, Court Vision, and Sailor’s Cap.

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